Zika Virus Causes Travelers to Change Plans

With the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring that the Zika virus requires an urgent, united response, international travel insurance sales are soaring, says Reuters. Many vacationers are rerouting or cancelling trips to Latin America to avoid the rapidly spreading virus, which WHO is placing in the same category of concern as Ebola, reports the BBC. The rise in insurance sales provides insight into how travel is being impacted by the virus, although hotel chains and airlines have not yet been able to determine how it has or will affect bookings in the coming months. The infection, which can particularly affect pregnant women and cause birth defects, has raised concerns for the Rio Olympics this summer, but has not yet delayed plans. The Zika virus is not expected to have a widespread impact on the continental United States. To read more, click here.